Thiruvananthapuram: City gas distribution network is set to undergo a major technological upgrade with the introduction of smart meters. The initiative, designed to enable accurate billing and real-time gas consumption monitoring, will replace conventional mechanical meters, making usage more transparent and efficient for consumers.The smart meter rollout will allow consumers to monitor gas usage in real time and opt for a prepaid billing system. The new initiative will help reduce disputes related to meter readings and make the system more consumer-friendly. The smart meters will be installed free of cost, sources said.Currently, around 26,500 households in Thiruvananthapuram are connected to piped natural gas (PNG). The distribution network has about 650km of pipeline across the district, supplying gas to households and 25 commercial establishments, including restaurants and small businesses.Officials of THINK Gas, the implementing agency, said the company was focusing on strengthening supply infrastructure to meet the growing demand for natural gas in the region.Deputy regional head–Kerala, THINK Gas, Deepu John told TOI, “We are focused on serving the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors by supplying PNG and the transport sector by supplying compressed natural gas (CNG), providing a comprehensive and sustainable energy solution in Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. In Thiruvananthapuram, the company operates an LCNG (liquefied compressed natural gas) station at Kochuveli and Thonnakkal. It will open its next facility at Chavara in Kollam soon. The company is also expanding its CNG infrastructure, with plans to set up five additional CNG stations in Thiruvananthapuram and two in Kollam, while adding around 6,000 new PNG connections in Thiruvananthapuram by the end of 2026.”The LCNG plant planned at Chavara will be a major supply hub for the region and help support expanding natural gas distribution in both Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.Network expansion is planned in several panchayat areas that currently have limited coverage. In Thiruvananthapuram, new pipeline infrastructure is expected to reach Mangalapuram and Vilappil soon. Similarly, Panmana panchayat in Kollam was identified for expansion in the next rollout phase.Meanwhile, expansion of CNG network is under way to cater to the rising number of natural gas-powered vehicles with five new stations planned in Thiruvananthapuram and two in Kollam.Horizontal directional drilling, a trenchless technology that minimises road damage and traffic disruptions, has been extensively used to lay the pipes, especially under canals and urban infrastructure. The rollout forms part of the national city gas distribution initiative aimed at increasing the use of cleaner fuels for cooking, transport and industrial purposes. Natural gas is widely seen as a more environment-friendly alternative to LPG and conventional fuels. Expanding PNG and CNG infrastructure is expected to reduce carbon emissions while offering a reliable energy source to urban and semi-urban areas.BoxExpanding ReachAround 26,500 households in T’puram currently connected to PNGNearly 650km of pipeline – Supplying gas to households and commercial establishments across district
